Dear Tweeters,
I headed out to Sorenson Pond south of Ellensburg this morning
(10/22) to see if I could relocate the Greater White-fronted Geese
reported yesterday at Sorenson Pond (on Berry Rd. in Ellensburg, but
marked as Tjossem Pond on Google Maps). There weren't very many ducks
on Sorenson Pond, but the first one I spotted was a first Winter White-
winged Scoter! I would call that unusual for Kittitas County away
from the Columbia River. The also unusual single Western Grebe
reported there yesterday was accompanied by another as well, making it
two Western Grebes. The remaining ducks were primarily Ring-necked
Ducks, and the group was rounded out by a single Pied-billed Grebe; no
Geese to be found. I continued down to Ringer Loop, since I had seen
Geese there recently in the field just east of the BLM parking area.
Sure enough, there was a smallish flock of Geese, mostly Canada, with
a few Cackling. I wasn't able to find any other groups of Geese in
the fields inside the area between Canyon and Moe Rds west-to-east and
Thrall and Berry Rds south-to-north.

The Scoter spent quite a bit of time diving, so if it isn't present on
your first look, hang around, and it should surface.

Cheers,
Walter Szeliga
Ellensburg, WA